Best Lightweight Sleeping Bags for Backpacking 2019

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When your travelling, or backpacking, you don’t just want the best backpacking sleeping bag, but you preferably you want one of the best lightweight sleeping bags for backpacking. Along with your backpack (and perhaps a sleeping pad), your sleeping bag is going to be one of the heaviest bulkiest items you carry and so you by having the best lightweight sleeping bag for backpacking will ensure you don’t waste precious space or carry unnecessary weight.

You may have read my other guide on the best sleeping bags for cold weather. In this post I talked about how I randomly bought some sleeping bags for our backpacking trip around the Northern Territory and whilst they did the job I certainly didn’t put much thought into whether they were the best lightweight backpacking sleeping bag. The sleeping bags we bought were so heavy and bulky and a real pain to carry around with us.

With the benefit of hindsight, I have put together this guide for others looking to purchase the best sleeping bags for backpacking or in fact any sort of travel. In this guide I will firstly take you through the various features to look for when purchasing a good lightweight sleeping bag, so you can purchase the perfect lightweight backpack sleeping bag for you. Lastly I will take a closer look at some of the top sleeping bags for backpacking currently on the market.

In these lightweight sleeping bag reviews, I look at a range of sleeping bags from the best lightweight cold weather sleeping bag to the best lightweight summer sleeping bag as well as the best budget ultralight sleeping bag. Whether you are after lightweight backpacking sleeping bags, the best hiking sleeping bag or the best sleeping bags for travelling in general, I have no doubt after reading this lightweight sleeping bag review you will be in a better position to make the perfect choice.

If you don’t have time to read my entire backpacking lightweight sleeping bag review, my pick for the best packable sleeping bag is the ECOOPRO sleeping bag. at only 750 g this is one of the lightest sleeping bags in this review and stores away super compactly so is really easy to put in the bottom of your pack, or hang of it. I also love that it is suitable for a range of camping climates, machine washable, water resistant and all at an awesome love price too. It even comes with a 1 year warranty.

Ok so firstly I don’t recommend you run out and purchase the most lightweight sleeping bag you can find because it may not be suitable to the environment you will be sleeping in. There are variety of factors that you will need to consider to ensure you purchase a suitable sleeping bag. Before going out to purchase a super lightweight sleeping bag, consider the following factors:

1. Insulation

Sleeping bags are insulated to keep your warm. The insultation is usually in the form of either down or synthetic which is sandwiched between two layers of fabric, shell fabric on the outside and lining on the inside.

Down Insulation

The best ultralight sleeping bags are insulated with down as down as the best warmth to weight ratio sleeping bag meaning a smaller amount of insulation is required for the same amount of a warmth as is required for synthetic insulation. This results in an ultra lightweight sleeping bag that takes up less room, making down the perfect choice for the best ultralight backpacking sleeping bag as a down sleeping bag can easily fit into the bottom of a backpack.

Despite being the best compact sleeping bag, down is unfortunately far more expensive than even the best lightweight synthetic sleeping bag. However down sleeping bags are incredibly durable, and the best lightweight down sleeping bag will last you for years.

Another negative is that down tends to lose its ability to insulate if it gets wet. To avoid this issue many manufacturers, treat the down with a durable water repellant.

The quality of down is measured by a fill power index from 400 to 900 – the higher the fill power index, the better the weight to warmth ratio of the sleeping bag.

If using lightweight down sleeping bags, it is recommended you purchase one that has been ethically sourced. That means the animals have not been ill treated to produce the down for the sleeping bag. Look for companies that follow the Responsible Down Standard. You can find a list of companies that follow this standard here. All the down sleeping bags for backpacking in this review are by companies that follow the Responsible Down Standard.

Synthetic Insulation

If you are looking for the best cheap lightweight sleeping bag or the best value lightweight sleeping bag, you should opt for one of the lightweight synthetic sleeping bags. Synthetic insulated sleeping bags are so much cheaper than down as well as being quick-drying and insulates even if it gets wet. A synthetic insulated sleeping bag also tend to be better for people suffering allergies.

The negative about synthetic insulated sleeping bags is that it doesn’t pack down as small as down, so not ideal when space is a premium.

2. Temperature Rating

Whilst you want the best light sleeping bag, more importantly you need one that will keep you warm enough. Unfortunately, manufacturers don’t use a standard temperature rating system and so choosing an appropriate sleeping bag can be difficult. Basically, the rating is a guess as to the ideal temperature the average person will keep warm in the sleeping bag.

The one universal rating method that you may see on a sleeping bag is the EN13537 rating – the European standard for labelling sleeping bags. This standard expresses temperature ratings in the following way:

Comfort: This is the warmth level required for a woman to sleep comfortably. It is based on a woman, because on average women require more insultation to stay warm than men.

Limit of Comfort: This is the lowest temperature that a man would feel comfortable sleeping in.

Extreme: This is basically the coldest temperature you would survive in, not sleep comfortably, but survive without freezing to death.

It is also important to note that everyone’s body temperature is different. There are various factors that will affect your body temperature when you sleep, such as:

Sensitivity to temperature

Conditioning, fitness and level of experience

Gender and age

Sleeping habits

Hunger and nutritional intake

Level of exhaustion; and

Environment

There are other reasons for your level of comfort inside a sleeping bag, such as your sleepwear, sleeping mattress, and prior exposure to wind, rain, snow and humidity.

Many camping experts suggest that when in doubt purchase a sleeping bag rated at least 5-10 degrees below the average temperature you will be using your sleeping bag in.

For easy identification, some manufacturers label their sleeping bags as two seasons or three season sleeping bags:

2 Season Sleeping Bags: also referred to as Summer sleeping bags are recommended for warmer weather or from temperatures 32F / 0C. Lightweight sleeping bags for summer are only recommended if you are always sleeping in warm weather.

3 Season Sleeping Bags: ideal for temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) and above. Features of a 3 season sleeping bag include cinchable hoods, draft collars and zipper draft tubes. A lightweight 3 season sleeping bag is generally perfect for all sorts of climates.

Cold Weather Sleeping Bags: These are the warmest lightweight sleeping bags and are suitable for those camping in extreme climates 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) and below.

3. Size / Length

Sleeping bags generally come in one of three lengths that are supposed to fit men and women of varying heights. Usually these lengths are tall (78 inches / 200cm), average (72 inches/ 185 cm) and short (66 inches / 170 cm).

4. Shape

There are a variety of shapes when it comes to sleeping bags with the main ones being the mummy, tapered rectangular and rectangular. If you are trying to save weight and space, look for a tapered sleeping bag such as the mummy, whereas if comfort is the priority a standard rectangular sleeping bag is your best bet.

Rectangular

Most camping bags are designed with a rectangular shape for maximum comfort and roominess.

The best lightweight rectangular sleeping bag can even be joined to another sleeping bag if one bag has a “right-hand” zipper and the other a “left-hand” zipper, creating a lightweight double sleeping bag. The zippers also need to be the same size, style and roughly the same length to create lightweight double sleeping bags.

Mummy

If maximum warmth is a priority and you’re looking for one of the best lightweight warm sleeping bag, then a lightweight mummy sleeping bag is the best choice. A mummy shaped sleeping bag is wide at the shoulders and narrows down towards the feet, creating less air that needs to be heated within the bag.

Some people don’t find these warm lightweight sleeping bags very comfortable as they are more restrictive than rectangular shaped sleeping bags.

Tapered Rectangular

The tapered rectangular is somewhere in between the mummy and the rectangular shaped sleeping bag. These sleeping bags have a tapered design offering greater warmth and efficiency than rectangular bags, but they’re still plenty roomy for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Women’s Sleeping Bags

Some sleeping bags come in women specific versions. Basically, a womens lightweight sleeping bag is designed to match a woman’s contours. When compared to standard lightweight travel sleeping bag, women-specific bags are shorter and narrower at the shoulders, wider at the hips and add extra insulation in the upper body and footbox.

5. Weight

Of course when backpacking, travelling or hiking, along with your tent, your sleeping bag is likely to be one of the heaviest and bulkiest items you take camping, so you want the lightest sleeping bag you can find that still meets all your requirements. Sleeping bags come in a range of weights from the ultra lightweight sleeping bags for backpacking at around 1 pound to 3 + pounds (450 g to 1.5 kg) . In the table above as I have listed the weights of the all the sleeping bags in this guide.

Just keep in mind that usually the lighter the sleeping bag, the more it’s going to cost. I have provided a range of top rated lightweight sleeping bags in a range of price brackets to suit all kinds of budgets.

6. Other Features

Above we have covered the main features of a good quality sleeping bags, but the best light weight sleeping bag will come with many additional features to increase your comfort.

Sleeping bag shell

The outer shell of a camping bag is typically made of a ripstop nylon or polyester for durability.

Many synthetic-fill bags feature a shell fabric treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. DWR allows water to bead up rather than soak through the fabric. Linings, on the other hand, promote the dispersal of body moisture, so DWR is not used here. To tell if a shell has a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment, rub a wet cloth across the surface. If the water beads up, then it has DWR.

The down side to a lightweight packable sleeping bag treated with DWR is that it tends to be less breathable, trapping perspiration inside the sleeping bag. Trapped perspiration reduces the insulations ability to trap heat so you will be colder in a sleeping bag treated with DWR.

Lining

Polyester or nylon breaths and draws away moisture. Cotton (flannelette) increases comfort but won’t draw away moisture so you can be left feeling damp.

Zippers

Most sleeping bags have two zippers so you can easily open your bag from the inside and the outside.

Look for sleeping bags with good quality zippers. Zippers that constantly get caught are a pain and make getting in and out of your bag difficult. Also look for zippers that go all the way around rather than just half way you can easily open the bag if you get too hot.

Neck Collar

Neck collars are perfect for a warm lightweight sleeping bag as they ensure the warmth stays within the bag by ensuring heat doesn’t escape from the sleeping bag.

Sleeping bag hood

Camping in cooler temperatures you’ll lose a lot of heat through your head. The best lightweight sleeping bag for cold weather will with a built-in hood. When cinched with a drawcord, the hood prevents heat from radiating away. Some hoods offer a pillow pocket that you can stuff with clothing to create a pillow.

Internal pockets

Some sleeping bags have small pockets on the inside where you can store small items, such as an MP3 player, watch or glasses, close at hand.

Sleeping pad sleeve

On some bags, the underside insulation has been replaced with a sleeve to fit a sleeping pad to help you stay on your sleep pad during the night.

The Best Lightweight Sleeping Bag Reviews

As far as synthetic sleeping bags go the Teton Sports LEEF is one of the best, particularly given it is suitable for temperatures around 0° F (-18°c) making it one of the great synthetic lightweight warm sleeping bags.

This lightweight cold weather sleeping bag is a mummy style sleeping bag with various features to keep you nice and warm such as the 3 piece ultra-puff hood which contours to your face and cinches down tightly, adding padding along the zipper to keep drafts out, built out foot box with extra filling and a soft micro polyester double brushed lining.

The shell is made from 40D ripstop nylon and is water resistant. Other great features of this lightweight sleeping bag include an interior pocket perfect for keeping your wallet or keys close, anti-snag zippers which can be opened from the inside or outside. This sleeping bag also comes in two lengths – 75 inch or 87 inches (190 cm or 220 cm).

At 4.2 lbs (1.9kgs), this is not the lightest sleeping bag in these reviews, but if you are after the best affordable lightweight sleeping bag for cold weather, this is a great choice as it folds up nice and compactly and will fit well in the bottom of your pack making perfect as a backpacking winter sleeping bag.

Perfect as an affordable lightweight hiking sleeping bag or for backpackers.

The Sea to Summit Spark SP III is the lightest mummy style sleeping bag in our reviews weighing only 1.6lbs (0.7kgs) so if you are after the best lightweight hiking sleeping bag then this is the one for you.

Made from a 10D UL Nylon shell that has been treated with DWR, and a 15D Nylon soft touch, high density weave liner, this sleeping bag is so lightweight it is the perfect choice for hiking or camping trips where you need to carry your own gear to your site for the night.

The 850+ loft Ultra-Dry Down (90/10 European goose down) not only makes it super warm but also makes it an ultra lightweight down sleeping bag perfect for cooler weather conditions as well as warmer climates too.

Other great features of this extreme lightweight down sleeping bag are the 1/3 length YKK zippers and the Sew-through transverse baffle construction.

This is a great lightweight mummy style down sleeping bag for all year round.

Made from waterproof and durable Nylon with 100% breathable and skin friendly polyester, this sleeping bag weighs only 1.65lbs (0.74kgs) and is so comfortable and warm to sleep in. The inside has premium TC that has a rating of 48-59 degrees Fahrenheit (8-15 degrees Celcius) to keep you warm and give you the best possible nights sleep away from home.

This sleeping bag measures 83 inches (210 cm) long and 30 inches (76 cm) wide and other great features include the smooth zipper closure, compression size of 11 inches (28 cm) in height and weight of 1.7 lbs (0.77 kgs), and the one-year warranty included with your purchase. This sleeping bag has a waterproof and weather resistant design so you know it will withstand all types of harsh weather environments.

If you’re looking not only for one of the best lightweight hiking sleeping bags but also one of the best cheap lightweight backpacking sleeping bags then the ECCPRO is a great option.

The mummy design of this sleeping bag is perfect for keeping your face and head warm on those colder nights. The zipper draft tube and vaulted foot box provide extra comfort and warmth, while the soft, breathable, double-brushed liner makes for a super comfortable nights sleep while camping.

This is one of the best portable sleeping bag options as it is super lightweight weighing only 2.9lbs (1.3kgs) and made with innovative microfiber insulation which offers more loft and compressibility so you are able to store it in the bottom of your hiking bag easily.

Other great features of this best lightweight packable sleeping bag is the durable compression sack that allows you to stuff your sleeping bag in and tighten with the heavy duty straps for ultimate compression, and the built-out foot box and anti-snag zipper.

This is a great lightweight sleeping bag that provides maximum warmth and comfort.

This 3 season sleeping bag is made with 650 fill power Nikwax Hydophobic Down which will keep you nice and warm even in damp conditions. The shell is made from Nylon Ripstop and has been treated with waster-resistant DWR for extra protection in the chance you experience unexpected rain.

Weighing only 2 lbs 14 oz (0.97 kgs), and with a packed size of 18 x 9 in (45 x 23 cm) diameter and 6.9 L of compressed volume, it is super lightweight and compressible for the warmth you will receive.

Other features that make this one of the best lightweight 3 season sleeping bag available on the market are the ThermoGills unzip that will let out air if you get too hot, and a waterproof and breathable footbox that will protect against condensation to help keep your feet warm and dry. It also has a unique spoon shape and is designed with extra room at the elbows and knees so you aren’t forced to sleep on your back.

This is a fantastic lightweight sleeping bag down option with a left zipper and would suit anyone up to 6.5 feet tall.

There are many great warm lightweight sleeping bags on offer and the Marmot Sawtooth 15F (-9C) is no exception.

Weighing only 2lbs (0.9kgs), this is one of the best lightweight winter sleeping bags on offer that has extra resistance in wet weather conditions. It has certified 650 Fill Power Down and the Down Defender adds to the performance of the sleeping bag making it more water-resistant and warm in wet conditions.

The anatomical Wrap-Around Footbox helps to increase and intensify the insulation but still leaves plenty of room for your feet to wriggle around.

Other great features of this lightweight warm weather sleeping bag are the full length locking YKK Two Way Zippers and the Anti-Snag Slider to help in the prevention of your zipper getting caught in the sleeping bag and snagging the fabric.

Various reviews state that the Marmot lightweight sleeping bag is a great quality sleeping bag for a very reasonable price and is very well made.

The Mountain Hardwear Ration sleeping bag is another great choice if you are after a cold weather lightweight sleeping bag.

This synthetic sleeping bag is made with Q.Shield Down and 650 fill down that also has an advanced treatment applied to it that helps to retain maximum loft in damp conditions and resists heat robbing moisture and is suitable for temperatures of up to 15F (-9C).

The mummy cut of this sleeping bag is both comfortable and super warm while also minimizing weight you need to carry on your camping trips. The Unique Thermo Trap Baffle locks down into smaller chambers for even loft height, less down migration and an overall more consistent warmth.

Other great features of this sleeping bag are the down-filled face gasket that blocks drafts at the hood opening, insulated draft tube and anti-snag panel that helps to prevent cold spots along the zipper.

This is a great lightweight winter sleeping bag that weighs 2.7lbs (1.2kgs) and is available in blue or red colour.

This lightweight sleeping bag is made from 650-fill power Nikwax-treated Hydrophobic Goose Down which is water resistant and will dry up to 3 times faster than untreated down in the chance that it might get wet.

The Reflective ThermaCapture seams help to trap in the body heat and the zoned insulation concentrates on fill at the top of the sleeping bag to capture all the warm air rising. There are removable connectors that integrate the sleeping bag with a sleeping pad to help prevent shifting and sliding during sleep and eliminate cold spots.

It weighs 2 lbs 7 oz (1.2kgs) and packs down to 9 x 14 inches (23 x 35 cm) and other great features of this sleeping bag are the storage bag and stuff sack that come with this sleeping bag.

The Therm-A-Rest Questar makes a great choice for lightweight sleeping bags for hiking or camping.

This lightweight sleeping bag has ThermaPro synthetic insulation which is a fiber blend specifically engineered to keep warmth retained and provide superior packability. The zipper draft tube also helps to keep warmth in and cold air out.

The thermal hood is super comfortable and works to keep your head warm, and with a very natural fit foot box you are sure to get the best night sleep possible.

Other great features of this sleeping bag are the anti-snag design, stuff sack and storage pocket to keep your phone or keys close by.

Weighing only 3lbs (1.3kgs) and up to 6 foot in length, it would be the perfect size for any adult needing a lightweight sleeping bag for a hiking or camping trip.

This sleeping bag weighs only 3lbs (1.3kgs) and features SpiraFil high-loft insulation which offers a high level of warmth and durability, so you know you will be warm in this sleeping bag no matter the climate of your destination. It is EN tested to be able to comfortably sleep with temperatures as low as 30 degrees F (-1C).

The anatomically shaped footbox allows for more wriggle room and far less heat buildup near your feet so you don’t end up an uncomfortable night’s sleep, and the fold-down secondary zipper adds extra ventilation and easy access.

Other great features of this sleeping bag are the combination wave construction, interior stash pocket, draw cords, dual hang loops, a stuff sack and locking YKK two-way zipper.

Various reviews state that this is a comfortable and sturdy sleeping bag that is suitable for larger people too.

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